Kendrapara (Odisha): Plagued by abysmally low student strength and steady rate of dropout, 133 government-run primary schools are facing the threat of closure in Kendrapara district of Odisha.

These schools thrive on paper only with exceedingly poor enrolment which has necessitated shutting down these institutions.

The Education department has decided to close down 49 primary schools after the issue of poor enrolment was reviewed at a high level meeting recently. As per the prescribed yardstick, 133 schools were found to have student strength of less than 25.

However, it was decided to run 84 schools as these were disadvantageously located, District Project Coordinator of Sarva Sikhya Abhiyana, Nirmal Kumar Das, said.

The schools to be closed would be merged with nearby government-run schools in terms of students. The teaching staff would also be accordingly shifted, said an official.

As children are better taught in nearby schools, parents have stopped sending their wards to these schools, he added. For all practical purpose, the primary education has lost its sheen. Disillusioned parents repose little faith in the much touted free education, quipped Dr Basudev Das, noted educationist.